How to Deter a Dog From Digging in a Flower Bed

Prevent dogs from digging up flower beds.

Dogs dig in gardens and flowerbeds for a variety of reasons, including boredom, looking for cool place to escape the heat and a place to play. Left unchecked, the canines can cause severe damage, trampling over plants, chewing off blooms or stems and creating mounds of dirt. Deter the canine from treating your flowerbed as a personal playground, before it becomes a habit and all your flowerbeds are dug out. With careful tact and patience, the dog's urge to dig in flowerbeds can be suppressed.

Things You'll Need

• Doggy leash
• Ball or flying disc
• Fencing
• Cayenne pepper
• Alcohol
• Spray bottle
• Crushed cumin
• Red pepper
• Sound- or light-activated automatic deterrent system
• Shovel
• Sand
• Doggy toys
• Doggy treats

Instructions

1. Leash your dog and take it for short, frequent strolls instead of one or two long ones during the day. Breaking up the schedule into shorter walks expends the dog's energy and prevents boredom. Take a ball or flying disc along and play a game of catch to exert your pet.

2. Install a fence around the flower garden to bar the dog's entry. Depending on personal taste and allocated budget, a wire mesh or wooden fence will act as a physical barrier and prevent direct access. Keep the fence high enough so the dog cannot easily jump over it. Bury the lower edge 1 to 2 feet in the ground to eliminate chances of digging and wriggling underneath.

3. Create a mixture of crushed cayenne pepper and alcohol and add to a spray bottle. Spray the mixture over the flowers in the flowerbed and the area surrounding it. The peppers induce the dog to sneeze, thus discouraging it from frequenting the flowerbed. Alternatively sprinkle a mixture of crushed cumin and red pepper around and over the flower beds.

4. Install an automatic sound or light system that startles the dog and drives it out of the area. Different types of devices with sudden light or sound are commercially available and easy to install. Depending on personal taste, install motion-activated lights or a motion-activated water spray to scare the dog. Switch the activity every time to prevent the dog from becoming accustomed to it.

5. Dig a sand pit for the dog in a corner of your yard where it can dig at will to expend its energy. Keep it large enough to accommodate the size of the dog. If filling it with mud, spread a layer of sand over the base of the excavation to assist drainage. Put the dog's favorite toy in the pit to encourage use, and reward it with a treat until it is accustomed to the pit and spends most of its time there.

References

• The Daily Puppy: Tips to Keep Dogs Out of Flower Beds
• Dog Topics: How to Stop Your Dog Digging Up the Flower Beds